Means for assembling internal-combustion engines



IF2. O. GILL Jun 24, 1930.

MEANS FOR ASSEMELING NTERNAL COMB'IUSTION ENGINES Filed Janjlg,

E925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y f2 El eubeno. 5,11

VJune 24, 1930. RC. @ILL 1,768,049

MEANS FOR yASSQEMBLING INTERNAL COMBUSTION` ENGINES -Filed Jan. 19l 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2 N 'Hrs-.El

Patented June 24, y1930 UNITE/D sTArs REUBEN' o; GILL, or iariooiviriiinn, MICHIGAN, Assierion 'ro rAcKAnDqMoToR can COMPANY, 'orf DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A coaronafrioir or ivirciiIGAN yI/lIillAN'S FOR ASSEMBLING .INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG-INES original application inea February 13, 1924, seriai no. 692,506.y Divided and this application ined January 19, 1925.

This invention ielates to internal conibustion engines, particularly to the as-' sembly duringmanufacture `ofsuch engines, being a division of application Serial No.

692,506, tiled February 13, 1924i. It has for Other objects of the invention will appeary from the yfollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, which form apart of this'specication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an assembly view, partially inside'` elevation, partially in section, and ,partiallyV broken away, of' apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention;4 i

y Fig. 2 is a view, partially in end elevation and partially in section, cfa portion of the apparatus illustrated in F 1;

ig. 3 is a perspective View o'fone of the piston clamps; Y,

Fig. 4. is al view,vpartially in section and par, tially in longitudinal elevation, throughA the clampactua'ting slide;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of part of an internal combustion engine showing the method'of securing the crank shaft thereof` against rotation during assembly;

Y Fig.y Gis a perspective 'view of a guiding and clamping bracket for the cylinder block preferredfor use inconnection with this invention,`and l f Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation v0f a portion of the bracket illustratedin Fig. 6, showing the vibrating means.

It is customary in the manufacture of in-y ternal combustion engines to assemble various units of such engines at separate points, sub'-v sequently bringing the units to `a final assembly. lFor example, in the usual type of engine having a crank case, a cylinder block, a detachable oil pan on the crank case and a detachable head blockoiithe cylinder block, lit-V the crank-'pins of the crank shaft. At ajfiir- Seral No. 3,330. Y

placed over the pistons onto the crank vcase and is secured thereto, and thecylinder head Y is afterwards secured to the cylinder block.

he oil pan may be attached at any convenient stage of the process of assembly.

In most modern' internal combustion en- ,Y gines, especially of the automotive type, the` cylinder block consists of aV casting which con# stitutes a considerable percentage of the total weight of the engine. these engines as heretofore practiced, it has been customary to lower such cylinder blocks n over the pistons toward thecrank case either by hand, or by the use of an ordinary',chainv block.v As 'the heavy casting was lowered, the pistons,'secured to their respective conne'c'ting rods on theengine crank shaft, were ders in the cylinder block, the rings 'on each of the pistons being compressed in turn, as necessary. In this process of handling the work, there is no adequate control over inotions of the cylinder block, especially lateral motions thereof. As a result, pistons have l frequently stuck inV their cylinders, because ofv ditliculty i'n adequately compressing the rings in their grooves and for other reasons, land it has not been uncommon practice to pull and shake the cylinder block, and even torap it with a hammer, in an endeavor to free `a stuck piston. Such practices result in more f or yless lateral motion `of the block withl i'e-' spect to thecrank case, and as will be readily.

understood, such lateral motion puts a tremendous strain upon the rods and bearingsof those pistons that are alreadyengaged in shaft, connectingrods and pistons, and the cylinder'blocks', in a manner so guided and controlled as to obviate the imposition of any unusual or dangerous strain/on any of the parts.

,Referring-,to the drawing, at 10 is shown a portion of an internal combustion engine in In the assembly ofindividually started into theirpropeifcyliny the process of assembly, said engine having CII a crank case 11, to which is secured an oil pan `completed engine is supported, and with a flange y22 forming a portion of a fly wheel housing` which is adapted to be secured by peripherally arranged bolts 23. The rear end of thev crank sliaity 19 is provided with a flange 24, located` within the housing and provided with suitable bolts 26 for attachment to the engine-ily wheel (not shown).

During assembly, the crank case 11 is supportedl from the arms 21-by'mean's of grooved wheels 28, journaled in blocks 29 which are secured, as by Abolts 31, to'saidarms 21. The groovedrwheels 28 are'adapted to cooperate with rails 32, suitablysupported on standardsV 330il any well known' form and constituting an assembly track- The crank case 11 of the engine traverses the entire length of this as s'embly track receiving various additions fromV time to time until acomplete engine is assembled.

i Mounted above the main assembly track 32 and arranged substantially at right angles thereto,'is a traversing track consisting of rails 34 supported on suitable hanger members 35 which are suspended in any appropriate way from the roof of the building or any other convenient point.

Mounted on the rails 34 is a traversing trolley comprising a frame 36 suspended in any pas ' usual piston-orplunger (not shown) which is.

convenient manner Vfrom, the ,shafts 37 of grooved wheels 38, which cooperate with the rails 34. Suspended from the frame 36, as by means of a bracket 39 is a hoisting mechanism of any suitable type. Asshown, this mechanism is of the well knownv pneumatic type having an air cylinder 41'clamped betweenend plates 42 by means of rods 43, which are @Connected to and supported fromA the bracketf3'9f'gThe cylinderl 41 .contains the connected to a rod 45 projecting through a packing gland 46 in the lower plate 42. The

space within the cylinder '41 below the plunger .is adapted to be supplied with com- Y pressed air byk means of a pipe 47, communi-l eating with any suitable source thereof. This pipe 47 is provided with acock 48 for controlling the admission of compressed air to the cylinder 41, and the cylinder is also provided with the usual escape ycock 49 vby means of which air is allowedr to escape from the interior of the cylinder 41 in the well known manner. The operation of the pneumatic hoist above described is so well known that further description is deemed unnecessary. The pipe 47 may also have a` connection 51 Vfrom which a supply of compressed air for other purposes vmay be taken to any convenient point, if desired.

VThe lower end of the rod is providedj with a suitablefixtureuor bracket 53, secured thereto in any convenient way as by the bolt' 54,' and which is adapted for cooperation with the cylinder block casting 13. This bracket 53 is formed with a central or bridge portion 55 having a vhole 56 for passage of the bolt 54, and with end portions 57 each symmetrically arranged thereon. Each of these end portions 57 has a downwardly disposed tace 58 adapted to contact with the top of the cylinder block casting 13, and a wing portion 59 in which is provided an accurately formed guide hole 60. The guide holes 60 are, formed v with parallel axes which are normalto the Y tace 58 of the downwardly disposed portions and which are parallel to each other. The portions 58 are also provided with lugs 61 spaced and drilled to cooperate with two or more of the cylinder stud bolts 62,V and are provided with suitable wing nuts 63 by means of which thebracket 53 is rigidly secured to" the cylinder head. casting 13.

VMounted alongside the assemblytrack is a fixture 65, which may berigidly secured to the supports 33 ofthe-track by means of bolts,

as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The iiXture 65 has f Y a horizontally disposed portion 66 a-dapted'to overhang the track. At the outer end of theV Y portion 66 are arranged a pairv of vertically disposed guide posts 67, which are adapted for ycooperation with the guide holes 601 formed in the bracket 53. The upper end of the posts 67 maybe slightly'tapered or rounded to facilitate the entrance of the posts into the holes 60. They are accurately formed, and rigidly secured in avertical position, and

are adapted to closely fit the holes 60 to insure rectilinear travel off the bracket 63 and the attached block 13 during the operation of lowering the block casting 13. VThe guide holes 60 have a sufficient bearing surface on the Y posts 67 to prevent chattering and twisting of the bracket 53 thereon. i Y

. The horizontal portion 66 of the fixture 65 is also adapted to support a pair of horizontal Y slides-69, arranged'ioifi'ejabove the other and mountedin suitable guides 71 formed within the portion 66 of Ythe liXtu're. Each Yof the slides 69 is formedat its forward end with a transverse beam member 72, arranged paral-V lel to the track 32 and adapted forhorizontal` movement toward and'from the' pistons 17. The outer endsof the beam members 72V are provided with vertically disposed pins 7 3, adapted Vto support suitable space-d piston clamps 74. Each of the piston clamps 74 has ahousing member'7 6 adapted toslidevertiiso Y mede-i9 cally on the associatedv pin 73 andk having a guidingV surface 77 adaptedfor cooperation with the beam member 72; -A,compression4 springk 7 8f is preferably placed; between a suitable shoulder 79 on the pin 7 3, andk an in.- ternal shoulder 81 on the member 76, and acts to urge the housing 76,andclamp 74to- Wardgthecupper end of the4 pin.

The outer end of each ofthe piston clamps 741is` formed With aV semi-cylindrical notch 82 of a diameter corresponding to that ofi the piston 17i Withvvhichit is adaptedto cooperate. ArtQ the ends of the notch`82, the clamp 7 4 is'formed With lugs 83 to which are hinged,

as by means of the pinsc84, a pair of cooperating clamp bands 86, Which define With'thc notch 82 a circularA clamp, adapted to embrace the piston 17 and-compress the rings thereof in their grooves. The clamp bands 86 are urged into their clamping position by any appropriate means, suchr as the leaf springs 87, and are preferably provided at their meeting ends-With a suitable latch 88,l adapted-to retain them in closed position. v Each of the slides 69 is adapted for actuation in a forward' direction by a 'piston' 92, connected to the slide by a pistonrod-91, and mounted inthe -usual mannerfin a= cylinder 93.v Thiscylinder 93. may be formed in the horizontal fixture portion 66 as Yby casting,

or it maybe-separatelyformed andsecured in place in-any desiredvvay. rPhe front head 94 of the cylinder is preferably formed las aftWo part ring, seatedagainst a shoulder l95 in the cylinder Wall. The ring may be secured in position against the, shoulder 95-by means of aset screw 96, or in any othervconvenient Way.

94 and maybe engaged'by; suitable packing byl theusual head; Theadmission of air un- Y der pressure to the cylinder 93,;to actuate-thepiston' 92, is under the control of suitable valves 98, provided Withhandles 99. Itwill be understood that each of the slides 69 is provided With a pneumatic actuating mechanism-such as that described, WhichI is of av Well known type'requiring no further description. When, upon appropriate movement ofthe handle 99, the control valve 98 isopen yto exhaust the cylinderf93, each ofthe slides is returned to its inner position by means of tension springs 100, as clearly shownl in Fig. 2. V

Suitably mounted upon the bracket 5.3 isa;

vibrating ymechanism 101. *This mechanism may be-of' any suitable form'but' it 1s preferably of the pneumatic typ'eand consists of aminiature air hammery adaptedtov deliverlight blows inrapid succession to an anvill blockv located Within its casing 1 (not shown) Asvibratory mechanism of this kind-is-Well known, ai detaileddescription thereof is noty considered necessary. TheV vibrator 101,'may- The piston rod'- 91 passes4 through an opening in the center of the head connected to a suitable inlet nipple 103 through a stop cock 104, by means of Which the admission of air to the vibrator 101, and

consequently the operation of this vibrator, is controlled. c ,f c

rllhe operation of this device Willbe readily understood. The crank case 11 of the engine,

togetherWit-h the crank shaft, and the piston andgpiston rods thereof, is rolled on the'v n semblyvtrack into position beforek they fixture 65, Whereit is suitablyclamped in any convenient Way. The engine crank shaft 19 kis then rotatedintoa position such thatA the engine pistons 17 occupy a cemmon'vertical plane andare arranged in apair of horizontal planes, one abovevthe other; some lof'the pistons being in one ofthe horizontal planes andthebthers inthe other horizontal plane,

depending on the design-ofthel crank shaft.Y 19; rThis; crankshaft 19.f may be securedfint'he position stated inv any suitable manner, but it is preferably secured by means of a link^106A which. connects one of thev bolts 26 inL the crank shaftfiange 24r-to `oneofthe bolts 2301i the housingfiange 22.l VInvthis position ofthe crank shaft. the handles 99 are manipulated to-l open theirrespective valvesl 98y and admit` air under pressure behind the=pistons92 in the cylinders'93. rrPhe pistons-92 are thus forcedforwarzd in their respective cylinders,

carryingetheslides 69 with them,through the rods 9 1againstthe tension ofthe springs; 100: The. forwardY motion of the slides 69'.

advances the crossfbars 72, and Withthem the pistonclamps 74,',1-nto. piston engagingy position. @ne ofi the engine: pistons liiis now disposedain .each ofthesemi-circular notches- 82, and; the. clamp bands 865ar'e-i closed abouty the piston and secured by means ofthe latch 88', kthus compressingvthe,piston rings in their respective grooves a1 manner Well understoodi-in thelart to which kthis invention relates. It will thus be seen that the pistons are rigidly alined in azverticalplane and are supvportedg inposition,- to. receive the .cylinderv blockfl.k c Y The cylinder block 13is brought from any convenient point-tov aposition lbeneath .the traversing track, Where' it.. is attac-hed' by means of thestudbolts 62 and nuts 63 to the lugs 631 onthebracket'. Y The. faces 58 ofthe bracket are thus rigidly clampedtagainst the upperv face of? the cylinder block 13. Air isI now admitted bymean's of the valve 485 into the cylinder 41 beneath thepllungcr-therein and vthe cylinder block 13 is thus .hoistedfiii the welliknovvnfinanner. It isthen brought by meansoff'the traversingtroll'eyto apoint lll() directly over the crank case'11, at which point the trolley frame 36 is secured in any convenicnt-manner- (not shown) f- The escape cock 49 is then-opened slowly and air allowed to escape-from the cylinder 41, thus permitting theblock 13 to; slowly descend by gravity toward the crank case 11. At the-proper point in its travel the guide pins 67 are started inthe guide holes 60.

VThereafter the travel of the cylinder blockis a strictly rectilinear descent in exact aline- :inent with the crank case 11, each of the cylinders 14 Vbeing alined with its cooperating piston 17.

Just before the lower face of the cylinder" block reaches the upper row of clamped pistons, air is admitted by means oftheV cock V104 to the vibrator 101 which thus impartsto the bracket 53, and consequently to the whole cylinder block 13 a rapid vibration of small amplitude. In this manner they tendency of'v any of the pistons 17 to stick'in their cooperating cylinders 14 is readily overcome without the imposition of any strain on the parts. As the lower edge of each of -thecyl1nders14 passes `over its corresponding piston :17,'it

strikes against the upper face of the clamp 74, pushingthe latter downward against the tension of the spring 78. In this manner the Vpiston embracing clamp notch 82 and its co- (S9-is retracted by releasing the air inthe corresponding cylinder 93 and-permitting the spring 100 to act. After retraction of the upper slideV 69, rthe escape cock 49 isagain opened and the 'Y lowering vof the cylinder block 13 is continued over the pistons clamped at the lower level. After the remainder of` the vpistons 17 are started in their respective cylindersY 14 the lower slide 69 is retracted in a manner similar to that loft-he upper' slide, and the cylinderblock 13 ,isiallowed to descend into contact ywith the crank casevv .1L A i. l

l It will be evident thatthis invention providesa means of assembling =internal combustiorilengifnes by which the principalunits ofy the structure may be quickly and-easily erect-- ed,'and"in which all danger of 'sticking and ensuing strain'onvthe connecting rods, pis-` tons and bearingsis obviated. Itwill be understoodthat variousforms of the invention V,other-than those described above may be used withoutl departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. What is claimedis: Y

1. In a device for assembling an internal combustion engine having -a crank case, aVA

cylinder block, a crank shaft-mounted in the crank case, and pistons secured-to the'crank shaft, the combination of a fixture having upwardly disposed guide members, means adapted to secure the crank case in fixed relation to the fixture, a bracket adapted to slide upon the guide members, and means for securing the cylinder block to the bracket.

2. In a device for assembling-parts of an internal combustion engine havinga cylinder block, a crank case, a crankshaft therein, and Y pistons connected to the crank shaft, ythe' combination of a fixture, vertically disposed guide members on the fixture, a slide mounted on the. fixture at right angles to said guide members,clamping meanson the slide adapted to maintainV the pistons in a vertical plane, a bracket having portions adapted to coop# erate with the guide members, and means for securing the cylinder block to the bracket.

3. In a device for assembling internal combustion engines having a crank case, piston and connecting rod assemblies` mounted, therein and a cylinder blocky adapted for mounting on said crank case Vto 'cooperate with said pistons, the `combination of guide members vertically disposed in fixed relation to thecrank'case, a *bracket adapted tov be rigidlyfsecured to the cylinder block having portions adapted for cooperation with the guide member, and-means for lowering the` block into position on they crank case under the control of said guide members.

.4. In a device for assembling linternal combustion engines having a crank case, piston and connecting rod assemblies mounted thereinand a cylinder block adapted for mounting Von said crank case to cooperatewith the pistons,.the combination of a guide member, a

bracket secured tothe cylinder block andveni f gaging the guide member, and means cooperating with the bracket for loweringthe block into position on the crank case under the n control of said guide members.

5. In a device for assembling Vinternal s,

combustion engines having a crank case, piston and connecting rod assemblies mounted Vtherein and a cylinder` block adapted for mounting Yon said crank case to cooperate withV said pistons, the combinationofgvertically disposed parallel guiding pins moiunted in fixed relation to the crank case, a bracket having guide Asurfaces adapted to cooperate with said pins and removably secured to the cylinder block, means to support the pistons 1n a common vertical plan-e, and means for lowering the block over the pistons into position `on the crank case under the control of Y said guide members. v

6. 'lfhe |combinantion in a deviceforfassem- Y bling'. internal combustion enginesfhaving a crank case with-apiston and connectingvrod assembly therein, and a cylinder block adapted for mounting on said crankjease, of means for securing the pistons in a common vertical plane above thejcrank case, and means for guiding the cylinder' block over the pistons into position on the crank case, said guiding means comprising vertically vdisposed guide members fixed With respect to the said secur' ing means, and a bracket adapted to be clamped to the cylinder block having portions engaging said guide members.

7 The combination in a device for assembling internal combustion engines having a crank case, a crank shaft and a piston and connecting rod assembly therein, and a cylinder block adapted ior mounting on said crank case7 of retractable means for clamping said pistons in a common vertical plane, means securing the crank shaft in a position corresponding to the position of said pistons, and guiding means adapted to restrain ythe cylinder block to a rectilinearpath While being r lowered over the pistons into position on the crank case.

8. The combination in `a device for assembling internal combustion engines having a Icrank case, a crankshaft and a piston and connecting rod assembly therein, and a cylinder block adapted for mounting on said crank case, of retracable slid-e members having clamps adapted to engage and support the pistons and to compress the rings thereof, means including a removable bracket member adapted to support and lower the cylinder block, said bracket member having guide surfaces, and guide members adapted to engage said guide surfaces to maintain the cylinder block horizontal and in line With the crank case While being lowered thereto over the pistons.

9. The combination in a device for assembling internal combustion engines having a crank case, a Icrank shaft and a piston and connecting rod assembly therein, and a cylinder block adapted for mounting on said crank case, of retractable slide members having clamps adapted to engage and support the pistons and to compress the rings thereof, means including a removable bracket member adapted to support and lower the 'cylinder block, said bracket having ymeans adapted to guide the pistons into the cylinders of said cylinder block, and means for vibrating said bracket and said cylinder block to assist the entry of the pistons into said cylinders.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.v

` REUBEN O. GILL. 

